York Herald – Monday 16 October 1899
Cruelty to Sheep
Alfred Laughton, labourer, Conisborough, was charged with cruelty to sheep.
Defendant’s father’s sheep got out of the field into an adjoining one. Defendant tried to drive them back through a gap. To get them to go through he pricked them with a fork. This not succeeding, he passed the prongs of the fork over the sheep’s necks and guided them to the gap. Having got them partly through, he removal the fork, and then pricked them behind, his dog also biting some behind. When the sheep were examined, five were found bleeding.
The evidence was admitted, but it was said the sheep were not hurt or damaged at all. The case had been exaggerated.
Defendant was fined 30s., including costs.
William Bradbury, farmer, Conisborough, was next charged with travelling a sheep while in an unfit state.
Defendant, the owner of the sheep in the last case, was seen driving a sheep on three legs. It was found to have its hip put out. It had been driven three miles.
Defendant was fined 40s., including costs. He said he would go to prison